Encaustic paint is applied molten to an absorbent surface, and then fused, (or re-melted), to create a variety of effects. Unlike other paints, encaustic goes from a liquid to a solid state and back again in seconds, which means layers can be built up immediately without any drying time. Once the surface has cooled, the paint has reached a permanent finish but the painting can be revised and reworked with heat at any time, minutes or years later. The term "encaustic" is often used to describe both the paint itself and the method for using it.